Were these rocks always here? Right before you stands the natural monument Nad Závodyštím. This isn’t just any patch of land. It’s a window into Prague’s deep past a geological treasure trove.
Nad Závodyštím holds layers of rock from the Upper Ordovician and Lower Silurian periods. These rocks tell a story of millions of years. They reveal how the Bohemian Massif formed. They show the evolution of early life in this region.
Imagine Joachim Barrande a pioneering geologist. In the mid-19th century he studied these very rocks. He found something puzzling. Younger fossils appeared in older rock layers. He called these areas “colonies”. He thought younger species had somehow colonized older environments. Later research showed the truth. These “colonies” are a result of tectonic shifts. Earthquakes and movements pushed younger rock layers between older ones. This created the unique geological structure we see today at Nad Závodyštím. The layers including the Silurian-Devonian boundary repeat themselves at least four times.
Sadly the area was once overgrown with invasive acacia trees. These trees released large amounts of nitrogen. This killed off native plants. Only resilient weeds survived. Now efforts are underway to remove the acacias. Native trees like oak hornbeam linden maple and even pine are being planted. Near the Velká Chuchle train stop you can already see the beginnings of this restoration project.
The area is easily accessible. Near Na Hvězdárně street you’ll find a well-exposed section. You can see the rich layers of the Bohdalec formation. A sloping rock surface shows the Kosov formation with well-preserved ripple marks. Further down you can even see the boundary between the Silurian and Devonian layers. This area was once rich in fossils.
So as you stand here at Nad Závodyštím remember you are looking at a story written in stone. It is a testament to the powerful forces that shaped Prague. It shows the enduring legacy of geological processes. This place is a reminder of the ongoing effort to preserve Prague’s natural heritage.